Former Bucks player blames Doc Rivers for franchise’s issues
A former Milwaukee Bucks player pointed the finger at head coach Doc Rivers on Wednesday for the major issues the franchise has endured over the previous two years.
Former forward Jae Crowder, who played for the Bucks from 2022 to 2024, reacted to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade request by essentially pointing to the hiring of Rivers as where everything started to go downhill. In a post on X, Crowder pointed out that the Bucks were 30-13 when first-year head coach Adrian Griffin was fired on Jan. 23, 2024, with Rivers brought in as his replacement.
“WE WERE 30-13 BTW. TO BRING IN DOC. THIS IS WHAT STARTED THE AVALANCHE,” Crowder wrote on X.
WE WERE 30-13 BTW. TO BRING IN DOC. THIS IS WHAT STARTED THE AVALANCHE https://t.co/BGh2ZaulRx
— JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) January 28, 2026
There were reports at the time that Griffin was struggling to command respect in Milwaukee’s locker room. Still, firing a head coach who had won 30 of his first 43 games was seen as stunning at the time, even by Rivers.
Rivers was brought in to ensure the Bucks would remain in consistent title contention. He has not done that. The Bucks are just 83-80 on his watch, and have failed to win a playoff series. The Bucks clearly think he is a significant draw, but results say otherwise.
Antetokounmpo has made it clear to the Bucks that he is ready to be traded, and the Bucks are willing to engage for the first time. One has to wonder if the franchise would be in the same place had they not acted so rashly with Griffin. Crowder certainly does not seem to think so.
Robert Kraft issues statement about Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame snub
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was moved to issue a statement about Bill Belichick’s exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot.
Kraft did acknowledge perceptions of “personal differences” between himself and Belichick, but made it very clear that he felt Belichick should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer. In the statement, Kraft perhaps sought to distance himself from any claims that he might have played any role in Belichick’s omission.
“Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves,” Kraft said. “As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, preparation, and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League. He is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.”
Robert Kraft on the reported omission of Bill Belichick for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 28, 2026
“Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves. As head…
Kraft is just the latest name to speak in Belichick’s defense after the former New England Patriots coach was unexpectedly excluded from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The snub left many in the world of football absolutely baffled, considering Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl champion.
Belichick and Kraft have been at odds, especially since Belichick left New England following the 2023 season. Despite that, Kraft has never denied Belichick’s success. In this instance, it also helps that Kraft has his own negative experience with Hall of Fame voting, though that made some wonder if he was sabotaging Belichick to ensure the coach did not get in before he did.
Kraft himself could be inducted as part of the Class of 2026 if he gets 80 percent of the votes. It is not yet known if that happened, but Belichick’s snub ensures that the two will not go in together, at least this year.
Sean McDermott turned down potential role with NFC team
Former Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott is serious about taking a year off instead of joining an NFL staff.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers reached out to McDermott about possibly joining their defensive staff for the 2026 season, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. McDermott, however, was not interested, and still intends to take a year off.
Bucs talked to ex-Bills coach Sean McDermott to check about joining Todd Bowles' staff, but he's expected to take this year off and re-assess his options in 2027. McDermott overlapped with Jason Licht with Eagles 2003-07 and interviewed for Bucs' HC job in 2016.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 28, 2026
The Bills surprised many by firing McDermott after the team lost in the AFC Divisional round. Because the firing happened so late in the coaching cycle, he did not have a full menu of head coaching jobs to choose from, assuming he wants to go that route again. He subsequently made the decision to take a year off instead of settling for an assistant job in 2026.
McDermott figures to be in demand in 2027, possibly as a head coaching candidate. He will look even better if the Bills regress after his departure. It makes ample sense that he would rather wait and re-assess next winter instead of taking whatever job offer comes his way for a year.
McDermott went 98-50 as Buffalo’s head coach and led the team to the playoffs eight times.
Report reveals when Giannis Antetokounmpo lost patience with the Bucks
A new report reveals what was ultimately the last straw for Giannis Antetokounmpo and his relationship with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks’ loss to Oklahoma City last Wednesday was viewed as a “point of no return” for Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. The 122-102 loss, followed by Antetokounmpo’s postgame comments, meant that the “writing (was) on the wall” to many Bucks players and executives.
Multiple sources with knowledge of Milwaukee had indicated the Bucks’ loss to Oklahoma City last Wednesday, and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s frustrations postgame, as a point of no return. The phrase we’ve heard over and over “the writing is on the wall,” from teammates and Bucks… https://t.co/LgeWpLTUdI
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) January 28, 2026
Antetokonmpo called out what he saw as “selfish” play from his teammates following that 20-point loss. The star forward only attempted 11 field goals in that game, which raised questions about whether the struggling Bucks were involving him enough in the offense. That loss dropped Milwaukee to 18-25, and they have not won since.
Public criticism of teammates, however well-intentioned, is usually a red line for a lot of teams. The fact that the normally mild-mannered Antetokounmpo was willing to go there underlined just how frustrated he had become, and it is easy to see why that loss and its aftermath proved to be a breaking point.
News emerged Wednesday suggesting Antetokounmpo had essentially asked the Bucks to trade him, and that the organization will comply either now or in the offseason. That decision comes with Milwaukee sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference, and Antetokounmpo sidelined by a calf injury for at least a month.
Tom Brady reacts to Bill Belichick Hall of Fame snub
Tom Brady has become the latest NFL figure to weigh in on Bill Belichick shockingly being passed over by the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot.
Unsurprisingly, Brady was just as baffled as everyone else at Belichick’s exclusion. In an appearance on “Brock & Salk” on KIRO 710 AM in Seattle, the former New England Patriots quarterback made it clear that Belichick was a no-doubt first ballot Hall-of-Famer, but pointed out that his former coach is a lock to get in eventually.
“I don’t understand it,” Brady said. “If he’s not a first ballot Hall-of-Famer, there’s really no coach that should ever be a first ballot Hall-of-Famer, which is completely ridiculous because people deserve it. He’s incredible. There’s no coach I’d rather play for. If I’m picking one coach to go out there and win a Super Bowl, give me one season, I’m taking Bill Belichick. That’s enough said.
“When it comes down to votes and popularity and all that, welcome to the world of voting. You may as well go try out for the Oscars or whatever. Get a big panel to tell you whether you’re good or not. It’s the way it works. He’s going to get into the Hall of Fame. In the end, I’m not worried about that. A lot of times in life for all of us, things don’t happen exactly how you want them on your timeline, but we’ll all be there to celebrate him when it does happen.”
“I don't understand it …. if he's not a first-ballot Hall of Famer there's really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”@TomBrady on Bill Belichick’s HOF snub w/ @BrockHuard & @TheMikeSalk on Seattle Sports. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/h2ZSpHhXmq
— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) January 28, 2026
Brady’s comments sum up how a lot of others feel about Belichick’s snub. The coach himself was said to be puzzled by the vote, and he definitely was not the only person who felt that way.
Brady and Belichick may not have parted on the best of terms, but the legendary quarterback has never hidden the coach’s importance to him and his career. They won six Super Bowls together and, as Brady alluded to, will both be in Canton eventually.
One report revealed one of the reasons Belichick was supposedly passed over in his first crack at induction.
Jim Schwartz furious with Browns after not getting head coach job
The Cleveland Browns’ head coaching decision may cost them their defensive coordinator.
Jim Schwartz was “visibly upset” after being passed over for the Browns job on Wednesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Schwartz said goodbye to fellow coaches and told them that he did not plan to return after not getting the job.
After the Browns informed DC Jim Schwartz this morning they were passing him over to hire Todd Monken as head coach, Schwartz was visibly upset, said goodbyes in the building and told other coaches he’s not coming back, sources tell The Insiders.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 28, 2026
Schwartz is under contract and… pic.twitter.com/GBEct9BRPB
Schwartz is still under contract with the Browns, and the team would like him to remain defensive coordinator under new coach Todd Monken. That appears to be an increasingly unlikely outcome based on his reaction, though.
Schwartz has been Cleveland’s defensive coordinator since 2023. He has consistently delivered quality defenses and was viewed as a serious candidate to get promoted to the head coaching job once the team fired Kevin Stefanski. Schwartz clearly felt he deserved the opportunity and was frustrated to lose out to Monken, who the team hired instead.
The Browns will have an uphill task trying to convince Schwartz to stay on under a new head coach. Perhaps he will change his mind, but the team may be left with no choice but to find a new defensive coordinator.
Giannis Antetokounmpo tells Bucks he is ready to be traded
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s time with the Milwaukee Bucks appears to be nearing an end.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Antetokounmpo informed the Bucks that he is ready for a new home, either before the Feb. 5 trade deadline or during the offseason. The Bucks are “starting to listen” after receiving multiple aggressive trade offers from other teams.
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home at the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline or in the offseason as several rival teams make aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for him, and the franchise is starting to listen, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OejatbQjDy
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2026
Charania added that Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have had “open and honest conversations” about the state of the franchise, and that the team is more willing than ever to consider trade offers. However, the Bucks have no plans to rush the process, and are willing to hold onto Antetokounmpo until the offseason if their asking price is not met now.
There have been a number of recent signals that Antetokounmpo’s patience with the Bucks is running thin. He openly called out his teammates for selfishness following one recent loss, and reports had suggested that his frustration with the organization was as high as it has ever been.
Antetokounmpo is eligible to sign a supermax contract extension on Oct. 1, which essentially makes next season a contract year. That should give him significant leverage over where he wants to go in any trade.
The Bucks fell to 18-27 with a loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday. The franchise’s efforts to build a new supporting cast around Antetokounmpo have clearly failed, and multiple injuries to the star player this season have not helped. He is expected to be out until around March due to a calf injury, though that does not necessarily mean he will not be traded in the next week.
Browns have hired a new head coach
The Cleveland Browns have found their new head coach.
The Browns are hiring former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken to replace Kevin Stefanski, according to multiple reports. Monken, 59, has never been an NFL head coach before despite decades of experience.
Monken previously served as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator in 2019. Albert Breer of The MMQB noted that he made a strong impression with Browns ownership at the time.
Todd Monken was on Freddie Kitchens staff in 2019, and made an impression with Browns ownership then—which put him in the running this year. This swings the door open on the Giants OC job, as well. https://t.co/VH0XXxOxHo
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 28, 2026
Monken is a fairly unexpected choice for the Browns, as they were more frequently linked to younger first-time candidates. Still, his name did resurface at the start of the week, and it was clear that Cleveland was giving him serious consideration.
The Browns are taking a chance on Monken despite his only previous head coaching experience being a three-year stint at Southern Miss. He was Georgia’s playcaller from 2020 to 2022 when they won a national title, and the hope is clearly that he can innovate the team’s offense based on his extensive experience and ideas.
Mitchell Robinson admits Knicks’ plan was tough to accept
The New York Knicks are rolling again, having won three games in a row after a four-game losing skid.
Their latest victory was a Tuesday 103-87 demolition of the visiting Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., with Mitchell Robinson playing a notable role in the win.
Robinson has always been a big plus for the Knicks when he’s on the floor, and if it were up to him, he’ll always be available for his team.
However, he is on a load-management program that prevents him from playing back-to-back games, something that the 7-footer has to come to accept after initially being averse to it.
After describing the Knicks medical staff’s plan as “rough at first,” Robinson said that he’s learned to accept it.
“I want to play every game. And with this plan…I kind of just have to embrace it…So I put my pride & ego to the side (and)… it’s working out,” Robinson said following the win against the Kings, via Ian Begley of SNY.
Against Sacramento, Robinson came off the bench and scored only 7 points on 3-for-5 shooting in 27 minutes, but there is a case to be made that he had a bigger impact than fellow big man and Knicks starter Karl-Anthony Towns.
Aside from grabbing 13 rebounds, Robinson finished the contest with a plus-25 — the best among New York players in the game.
Given the Knicks’ approach to Robinson’s usage, he can be held back from playing on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
That said, New York head coach Mike Brown shared before the Kings game that the team will consult with its medical staff about Robinson’s availability in the meeting with the Raptors, so perhaps the door is still open for the former Knicks second-round pick to see action against their divisional rival, Toronto.
Fans are about to find out if Shams Charania has got game
From breaking NBA news to breaking ankles?
Shams Charania will put his phone down and lace it up in the upcoming NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, as basketball fans are about to see whether the 31-year-old ESPN NBA insider has some skills to go with his reporting abilities.
Charania already sounded confident about his game when he announced his participation in the event.
“That’s always been a dream for me, Hannah [Storm], so I appreciate it,” Charania said during a Tuesday appearance on “NBA Today.
“Between the trade deadline and the celebrity game, now I realize I got a lot of ramp-up to do. I gotta represent.”
Charania added a preview of what fans can expect to see from him on the court, saying, “I’m a shooter, I can handle the ball, and I can make my floaters. Shoutout Danny Green.”
Charania did not mention something about his defense, but fans will also find out about that in the exhibition game, which will be held at The Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
A vast majority of the population hasn’t seen Charania play hoops, so this celebrity event can be viewed as his legacy game.
Either way, he’ll be back to scouring for big NBA news once he’s done taking care of business on the court.
Jon Gruden shuts down an AFC team’s coaching interest
Jon Gruden’s coaching comeback in the NFL is not going to happen with the New York Jets.
According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, the AFC East franchise reached out to the Super Bowl-winning former head coach about potentially joining their coaching staff as an assistant to Aaron Glenn, but Gruden “wasn’t interested.”
It has not been a secret that Gruden wants to lead an NFL team again as a head coach after parting ways with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
It can be recalled that in July 2025, Gruden said that he was “working hard to maybe get one more shot” at a head-coaching position in the NFL (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
Several months later, Gruden, who steered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl win in the 2002 NFL season, remains without a job in the league.
The 62-year-old Gruden is clearly still passionate about football, but his love for the sport doesn’t seem enough for him to accept a position below a head-coaching gig with one of today’s worst NFL teams.
The Jets have not been to the NFL playoffs since the 2010 campaign, and the last time New York had a winning season was in 2015, when the team went 10-6. In 2025, the Jets finished last in the AFC East with a 3-14 record.
Jeremiah Fears takes a shot online at Lu Dort after their heated encounter
New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears lived up to his name after the final buzzer sounded in Tuesday’s game against the reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Showing that he doesn’t back down against anyone, Fears got into a shoving match with Thunder guard Lu Dort as regulation time expired, leading to a gaggle of players, officials and other team members crowding the court as tempers flared.
Even Detroit Pistons “Bad Boy” alumnus Joe Dumars, who is now New Orleans’ president, had to help out in pacifying the situation.
You can watch the clip of the game’s wild ending here.
Lu Dort and Jeremiah Fears got into it on the final play of the game 😳 pic.twitter.com/pd57nEKb5f
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 28, 2026
Fears and Dort were eventually separated, with Fears being escorted off the court and into the tunnel, where he still had to be held back from going back out.
Still holding Fears after the game. pic.twitter.com/AzL7FLwaGS
— Jerry Ramsey (@TVsJerry) January 28, 2026
The former Oklahoma Sooners star Fears was not done even after the scrum. He took a shot at Dort by commenting “soft ah” with three laughing emojis on an Instagram post that shows a photo of his altercation with the Thunder guard.
Jeremiah Fears comment on Lu Dort:
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) January 28, 2026
“Soft ah” 😭 pic.twitter.com/rUyjU6fmap
Their beef will have to linger for a while, and it’s not going to be resolved on the court anytime soon, as the Pelicans and Thunder already played the last game of their series in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, with Oklahoma City completing a sweep of New Orleans with a 104-95 victory on Monday.
Craig Berube had a pointed message for the Maple Leafs after their loss to the Sabres
Home ice offered no comfort to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, as they suffered a 7-4 loss at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
It has been the trend of late for the Maple Leafs, which went 0-4-1 in their five-game homestand that ended with a loud thud, as the Sabres had their way on the host team.
Unsurprisingly, the effort shown by Toronto, especially defensively, was criticized by Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube.
“Well, that we have to keep the puck out of the net is what I learned,” the 60-year-old Berube said when asked in the postgame press conference about his takeaway from Toronto’s ugly homestand, via Sportsnet.
The Maple Leafs scored 12 goals during the homestand but gave up more than twice that total, allowing their visitors to rack up 25, and Berube made sure to stress that point.
“We didn’t do that here at home, other than the Detroit game. It is the only game we did. Until we decide to do things right and keep the puck out of our net — and that is the goalies included — this is what you are going to get.”
Underscoring the Maple Leafs’ leaky defense was the fact that a blueliner had a hat trick for Buffalo, as defenseman Rasmus Dahlin collected 5 points on 3 goals and 2 assists.
Toronto can expect things to get better, as evidenced by its PDO of 95.2 ( 5-on-5 ) in the homestand.
A change of scenery could give the Maple Leafs the spark they need, with a showdown against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Wash. on Thursday kicking off Toronto’s six-game road trip.
Aryna Sabalenka jokes that men can’t handle Australian Open heat
Aryna Sabalenka brought the jokes to her post-match press conference at the Australian Open.
Sabalenka routed Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 in their quarterfinal match at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia, on Monday night. The roof at the arena was open, making for a hotter match between the women, though Sabalenka finished Jovic off quickly.
Though the roof was open for her match, it was closed for the matches afterwards. Sabalenka was asked after her match about the roof being open during her competition, but being closed for the men who played afterwards.
“It was hot out there,” Sabalenka said.
“As a woman, we stronger than the guys, so they had to close the roof for the guys so they don’t suffer,” Sabalenka joked.
Aryna Sabalenka on the roof being open for her match against Iva Jovic at Australian Open:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 27, 2026
“It was hot out there. I guess yeah, as a woman we are stronger than the guys, so they had to close the roof so they don’t suffer you know?” 😂
(via Australian Open Press) pic.twitter.com/Ityh4NWSEY
The temperatures were high enough that Australian Open heat protocol was triggered, leading to the roof being closed for the later matches. The tournament was following its protocol, though it’s funny hearing Sabalenka talk about how much tougher the women on tour are compared to the men.
Reason Alex Honnold took such a small amount for Taipei 101 climb on Netflix revealed
Alex Honnold risked his life live on Netflix, but was only paid a relatively pittance to do so.
Honnold had millions of folks feeling a mix of awe and panic when he climbed the 1,667-foot Taipei 101 building on Saturday. Despite getting a global audience to tune into their Netflix apps, Honnold was only paid $500,000 to take on his death-defying feat.
In the days leading up to the ascent, Honnold himself described the amount as “embarrassingly small” relative to what some of the world’s top athletes make.
“Actually, if you put it in the context of mainstream sports, it’s an embarrassingly small amount,” Honnold told the New York Times’ Adam Skolnick before the climb. “You know, Major League Baseball players get like $170 million contracts. Like, someone you haven’t even heard of and that nobody cares about.
Sports and business reporter Joe Pompliano published a report Tuesday shedding light on Honnold’s motivations for the climb. It boiled down to how Honnold viewed the climb. He reportedly “didn’t think the climb was that hard” and would have accomplished it for free had Netflix not given him a paycheck to do so.
Compared to Honnold’s famous ascent of El Capitan in 2017, the Taipei 101 climb was virtually a walk in the park for Honnold. But that still doesn’t take away the possibility of external factors playing a part in the event going awry. One faulty panel or a sudden change in weather could have impacted Honnold’s climb for the worse.
Imagine what Scott Boras or David Falk could’ve gotten coaxed out of Netflix had Honnold had the same mindset as some of the major sports’ top athletes.
Jayson Tatum throws shade at random West team with his latest bold take
The Memphis Grizzlies caught a stray from Jayson Tatum that seemingly came out of nowhere.
The Boston Celtics star appeared on a recent episode of “The Pivot” podcast and spoke candidly about the challenges of playing for such a historic franchise. Tatum named a few of his Celtics predecessors and the expectation of winning in Boston.
The 6-time All-Star had an interesting way of illustrating his point.
“The career I have right now, if I had it with the Grizzlies, I would have a statue outside the arena,” said Tatum. “But now, I’m chasing people like Larry Bird where the standard is so much higher.”
Fans couldn’t help but chuckle at Tatum taking an inadvertent shot at the Grizzlies, who remain one of 10 NBA teams that have yet to win a championship.
Us Memphis fans right now: pic.twitter.com/sMfW9mZYvz
— Andrew Haner (@AndrewDHaner) January 27, 2026
Memphis: pic.twitter.com/I73mrpMREd
— n a t a l i e (@nataliethehero) January 27, 2026
Memphis just minding its own business pic.twitter.com/CD3muPMW3z
— Detroit Deadpool (@DetroitDeadpool) January 28, 2026
Jokes aside, Tatum does have a point. The reverence that Dallas Mavericks fans have for Dirk Nowitzki or even Toronto Raptors supporters have for Kawhi Leonard is clear after the two superstars brought their respective franchises their first championship.
Had Tatum done the same for the Grizzlies, he probably would have already earned a statue to be built years after his retirement. However, one could argue that some of Tatum’s success is partly because he plays for a legacy franchise like the Celtics, who operate with the same expectation of contending that Tatum mentioned.
Look no further than the current Celtics, who remain a top-3 team in the East despite Tatum having yet to play a single game for the team this season. Does the franchise make the player, or do the players make the franchise? It’s usually some mix of both.
Russell Westbrook gets the meme treatment for his latest hideous outfit
The Sacramento Kings are losing games left and right, but at least Russell Westbrook is not losing his sense of fashion.
Westbrook went viral before Tuesday’s game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. for his latest hideous outfit. The Kings posted a pregame photo of Westbrook leaving the team hotel in a very ridiculous-looking choice of attire.
The former NBA MVP Westbrook was in an all-gray outfit, including shorts, an oversized blazer, a button-up vest, a tie, socks, and an oversized beanie. Some users also noted that temperatures were below 20 degrees in New York on Tuesday while Westbrook was rocking that fit.
Russell Westbrook’s fit for tonight’s game in New York
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 28, 2026
It’s 16 degrees… (h/t @ClutchPoints) pic.twitter.com/2oyKYnPAkN
Westbrook’s fashion faux pas had him looking more like he was headed to Hogwarts than to an NBA game. Take a look at some of the funniest memes that resulted from Westbrook’s appalling outfit.
mf dressed like those school of rock students
— Stressed Dave Roberts (@givemesometopps) January 28, 2026
What in the Harry Potter is that
— Weather with Ty!! (@tennessen40471) January 28, 2026
Immediately thought of Peaky Blinders with the fit lol https://t.co/ivRPogRb10
— Jonathan (@Jon_94_) January 28, 2026
takes a brave individual to rock something that ridiculous https://t.co/BB0aWZ0vEI
— Alexander (@Alexander_1link) January 28, 2026
Unfortunately for Westbrook, his Draco Malfoy impression ended up being bad luck for the Kings. They ended up getting their doors blown off on Tuesday by the Knicks, losing by a final score of 103-87. Westbrook would finish with 14 points, four rebounds, and five assists, shooting just 6/19 from the floor and also turning the ball over six total times.
At least the 37-year-old Westbrook is consistent when it comes to … bold outfits. Over the years, Westbrook has showed up in public wearing everything from a poncho to even a skirt and blue hair.
Bill Belichick reportedly had fitting reaction to his wild Hall of Fame snub
Bill Belichick was just as baffled as everyone else that he was not named a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
The legendary New England Patriots head coach did not receive the required 40 out of the 50 votes for him to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The result prevents him from getting the nod on his first year of eligibility — a stunning result for arguably the greatest coach in NFL history.
A report from ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham gave a bit of insight into how Belichick took the news. The 73-year-old coach was “puzzled” and “disappointed” upon learning about the snub, and believed that “politics kept him out” rather than his coaching resume not being worthy enough.
Belichick reportedly asked an associate, “Six Super Bowls isn’t enough?” and told another, “What does a guy have to do?”
There’s no question Belichick has accomplished enough in the NFL to be deserving of a first-ballot entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has six Super Bowl rings as the head coach of the Patriots, and two more as a defensive coordinator during his time with the New York Giants.
In a sporting landscape where winning regularly trumps any other accolade, Belichick was the most successful coach by a wide margin. But Belichick did have to quell a few controversies over the years, which played a part in keeping the Patriots icon out of the Hall of Fame for at least one summer.
Tyrese Haliburton has gained 30 pounds since his injury
Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury has led to some other changes in his body.
Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals in June. He underwent surgery to repair the tendon, and has been recovering since then.
Haliburton appeared on the “Mind the Game” podcast for an interview that was published on Tuesday. During the interview, Haliburton revealed that he has put on 30 pounds since tearing his Achilles tendon. He says some of the weight gain is by design as part of an effort to be more physical.
“That’s really something I’m trying to focus on through my rehab, through my time to get back, is being more physical. I was 180 pounds on Game 7 day. I’m 210 right now. I’m up 30 pounds, bro. Obviously when I start to run I’m going to get that off. Some of it’s not, like, good, because I’ve been drowning my sorrows in cookies ice cream. … it’s a way for me to be more physical at the rim to get more free throws,” Haliburton said.
Haliburton is out for all of this season and is expecting to be ready for the start of the 2026-2027 season. The Indiana Pacers star will have plenty of time to figure out his weight gain ahead of next season.
The 25-year-old guard averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game last season. He has been an All-Star twice.
You can listen to the clip of him talking about his weight gain:
Tyrese Haliburton says he wants to be more physical when he returns from injury
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) January 28, 2026
“I was 180 pounds on game 7 day, I’m 210 now — I’m up 30 pounds bro. Some of it’s not good because I’ve been drowning my sorrows in cookies and ice cream.”
(Via @mindthegamepod) pic.twitter.com/1w1iQ84FYG
Dillon Brooks gets a flagrant foul for striking Nic Claxton
Dillon Brooks was at it once again during Tuesday’s game.
The Phoenix Suns guard Brooks was hit with a flagrant foul during the first quarter of his team’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Brooks was driving to the basket when he lost control of the ball.
As Brooks was trying to recover the loose ball, he ended up striking Nets big man Nic Claxton in the midsection area before successfully regaining possession. Here is the video.
Dillon Brooks was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for striking Nic Claxton in the midsection while attempting to go for the ball. pic.twitter.com/ujCjWZSzLe
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) January 28, 2026
Brook was given a Flagrant 1 upon review, resulting in two shots and possession for the Nets. It also marked Brooks’ fourth flagrant foul of the 2025-26 season.
The former All-Defensive selection Brooks is infamous for physical and borderline-dirty plays on opponents. During a game last month against the Golden State Warriors, Brooks was ripped for a dangerous foul that he committed on Steph Curry.
Brooks’ flagrant foul incident on Claxton looked to be a little bit more inadvertent. But it is very possible that the referees are keeping a closer eye these days on Brooks, who also kept getting away with a rule violation in a game earlier this month.
